In steps of Ibn Battutah - a Marinid AAR

[Elvain]

in 1324-1356 Abu Abdallah ibn Battuta, a famous traveller from Tangiers in Marocco made a journey through all of muslim world of his time. He started in Morocco to visit Mecca, but instead of comming home he visited Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Anatolia and Byzantine empire, Golden Horde, Khwarizm, India and China and then got back to Morroco from where he made his last journey around Western Africa and around river of Niger.
His journey ispired this AAR.

Political goal:
- unite all "western muslims" of "al-Andalus" (Iberian peninsula) and Maghreb (Morocco and Algeria) into one state ruled by the Marinid dynasty.
- all muslim provinces visited have to be under muslim rule. If local muslims are not able to do it, Marinid army has to.

Main goal:
- a knight from Marinid court will visit all muslim provinces on the map, vill visit Golden Horde (or it's successor), especially town of Sarai, get to the eastern edge of the map in Syria, visit Tebuk in Arabia to simulate Hajj (muslim pilgrimage to Mecca) and then through north african coast get back home. All eventual "stops" on his journey are welcome.
Conditions of the goal:
- the journey will be done all alone or with up to 2 desert cavalry/camel riders units - all muslim lands have to be visited in peace.
Limitations:
- free declaration of war to a Muslim country is prohibited
- diplomatic relations with Papacy and it's helpers is prohibited, unless it helps in liberation of a muslim province from rule of infidels.
- No possibility of marriage of muslim princess to non-muslim kingdom. A prince can marry a christian (not pagan!) princess only in order to inherit a muslim province

Settings:
- version 1.05
- mod: Holy Rome 1.8
- hard settings
- pause during battles off

--
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
startscreen:
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9923/001europeem4.png
royal family:
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5001/002family2pw4.png
diplomatic relations:
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3428/003relationstg5.png
religious map:
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/663/004religionuc4.png

[Denisold]

Hi Elivan - a suggestion as you go through your Marinid AAR.

Can you hold your use of 'warring' to the absolute minimum? This would force the use of the many other game aspects (ie trade diplomacy marriage ......etc) rather than allowing 'war' to dominate.

IMO going on your AAR journey with a 'minimum war' goal will likely give some valuable insights on how well the game plays without warmongering. Your insights passed along to BBS would likely assist them in KOH2 as they try to strengthen the weaker areas of game play. IMO warring is pretty strong in existing KOH game play - its the other aspects of game play that needs strengthening.

Anyway just a suggestion.

[Angryminer]

Elvain will definitely try to avoid expansion through war.

But make sure your travelling knight doesn't become an enemy spy. It'd make the story kind of arkward. Though even then you could still bsswitch to the knight's new lord. :smile:

Angryminer

[Elvain]

if it is possible I always prefere others ways of expansion than conquest.

This AAR - as could be seen from the goals - is basically about peace, especially among muslims. Though I wasn't yet - in this AAR game - able to do it. But yes I always try to use rather diplomacy and espionage if expansion is needed :go:
In this case to get to the political goals I have to "deliberate" 2 muslim provinces from rule of 2 powerfull catholic kingdoms (too powerfull for small Morrocan Marinid state) and take over 5 muslim provinces which belong to other 2 muslim contries.

With the rest of the map I will try to stay in peace, of course. But my favourite always is dynastical policy, so I believe there will be something to look forward :wink:

PS: to the spy thingie: with the mod I use I can't afford not to have a spy keeping my court clean :wink:

[Traveller]

Nice! Awaiting the first actual "episode"! :)

[Elvain]

in 1356 famous Abu Abdullah Ibn Battuta returned home to the Marinid Morocco
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
his last journey was in service of mighty emir Ali, but his previous travells, thugh were very instructive and informative for all who have heard them, the emir decided that it would be good if one more of his subject would make such voyage areound the muslim world and possibly cross it's borders if it would enrich the court in Marrakech.

He decided that such voyage is possible, but he also was very ambitious in "muslim issue" in the Maghreb and Andalucia. Many good muslims lived in provinces of Andalucia and Valencia under an infidel rule of catholic kings and in Granada, which was ruled by ruthless and evil emir who - long ago - declared war on Marinids.

To unite western muslims he first had to build up his own domain in Morocco. The cities, however weren't much developed, but had some potential:
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8281/005marrakeshks3.png
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5609/006tangiersxa3.png
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8281/005marrakeshks3.png

the most important thing was to have good income that would enable safe life of all western muslims. Trade agreements with the Zayyanids in Algeria and Mameluks in Egypt were good for start
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7748/007trade01lb5.png
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4509/007trade02zb5.png
--
PS: next update can come on sunday somewhen late in the evening

[Mircoslavux]

nice, I'm looking forward to read more...:hello: :hello: :hello:

[Angryminer]

Nice. :go:

Would you consider using thumbnails or links for images? When the story gets longer the pages will need a lot of time to load.
It'd be a good idea to transform all images of old entries into links, so only the current entry has [img]-images for easy viewing.

Angryminer

[Elvain]

good idea, Angry :go:

[Elvain]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
Chapter 2 - Granada

On the other side of strait of Gibraltar, there was rich province of Granada, which, among other things, had pasture, which was very important for the emirate of Marinids.
But the Nasrid emir was at war with the emir of Marinids and our economy needed help, so emir Aadil was sent to Granada to plunder their villages and force them to peace which would be good for the Marinids, or be ready for other consequences of the war.
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4585/009granadalt7.png

But Nasrid (Granadan) prince Dinar was sent by his cowardly father to stop the plundering.
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5429/010battle1ks7.png
Nasrid Granadan army could, however, hardly be called an army, in comparison to what our emir Aadil had under command.
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7449/010battle2di6.png

The battle couldn't last long,
the peasants fleed very soon and the prince was surrounded by Marinid soldiers.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9818/010battle3ma5.png
Sadly one of our soldiers decided not to follow Aadil's orders and killed prince Dinar during the battle.
That was very sad news for us as the honour of our king dropped in eyes of other good muslims.

The more disapointing the death of courageous prince was when Zayyanid emir
agreed to peace with Nasrids of Granada who then became vassals of Zayyanids
and princess of Granada was married to Zayyanid prince.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/483/012peacezl2.png
--
I forgot one ver important thing.

The AAR starts in 3rd Dhu'l-hijja 756 (December 9, 1355) and every 3 minutes in the clock present 1 lunar year.

The years will be mostly put in arabic era (since 622)

[Kuno of Gersenau]

Good work Elvain, I'm looking forward to th next chapter!:go: :cheers:

[Traveller]

Good work, Elvain! :go:

[Elvain]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
Chapter 3 - Granada (part 2)

Zayyanid victorious peace treaty with Granada forced emir of Marinids to the only possible way to save Granadan muslims from infidel rule
(Granada was also at war with Castilia which was much more powerfull not only than Granada but also Marinids)
So emir Aadil landed in Granada and marched towards the city
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2411/013invasionxr8.png

Granadan army was very weak,
the people could consider themselves lucky that it was Marinid army who assaulted the city and not Castilian.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1686/014battle1bp2.png

emir ordered his men to spread and isolate each enemy squad and eliminate them one by one
each with 2 squads of saracens. Archers supported them from the back.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6025/015battle2dk8.png

in the end only the king of Granada was left alone with his guards.
He knew how desperate his situation is,
but he found last courage of his and charged right between Marinid armies which surrounded him.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5530/016battle3cy0.png

Emir Aadil offered him to survive and to live in Marrakesh as honourable friend of Marinid emir,
but emir Aalam of Granada refused this offer and fought untill his last breath
(though his opponents didn't want to kill him).
Finaly he ran on a sword of unlucky marinid soldier to kill himself.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1782/018victoryir0.png

This was how proud Nasrid kingdom of Granada has fallen into oblivion.
Just before holy month Ramadan 763 since Hijra (1362 C.E.) Granada has fallen into hands of Marinid emir Ali.
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5235/019expansionyb0.png
The good thing was that we got Horses - the most valuable trade good.

[Elvain]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
Chapter 4 - Rising glory 763-774 A.H. (1362-1373 C.E.)

The news about the fal of Granada were spread fast throughout the entire world.
As the trade between Morocco and Egypt was abnormally intensive,
the first gratulations were expected from the court of Mameluks.
But the glory seemed to be even higher than emir Ali expected.
Not only did the sultan al-Hasan gratulated to the fresh conquest,
furthemore he offered alliance.
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/3783/020alliancekq6.png

"We heard about glorious victory of your armies, mighty emir Ali ibn Uthmán!
We would like to ask you,
if you would agree to our offer of alliance with mighty sultan of Mameluks,
lord of Egypt and protector of Mecca," said the ambassador of Mameluks in Fes.
Emir Ali replied:
"We are most pleased that mighty sultan, protector of Holy places,
finds us valuable enough to be his allies. Certainly we agree to your generous offer."

Not much later a problem appeared in Granada.
Soon after our officers took controll over Granada, a loyalist Absi demanded restoration of Nasrid kingdom.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4808/022rebelabsipk1.png

but emir Aadil's experience grew after the victory in Granada:
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6362/021skills1gw7.png

so he rapidly caught Absi and while his men were plundering, the rebel was killed.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/525/023deadrebelpa0.png
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/845/024skillwu5.png

The Marinid rule over Granada was now secured.
Not much later this news spread over the rest of Iberian peninsula,
where a war between infidel christians was taking place. Small western kingdom of Portugal was at war with Castilia which was oppresing good muslims in Andalucia.
To help his potential enemy's enemy,
emir Ali agreed to sign trade agreement with Portugal.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6427/025portugeesetradedb9.png

not much later another kingdom was informed abuot rising glory of Marinids.
But the head of infidels wasn't the best partner to trade with.
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/6385/028papacyyg0.png

[Anguille2]

Ooooohhh! :go:

[Elvain]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
Chapter 5 - Portugeese war 774-778 A.H. (1373-1377 C.E.)

Since Castilia was at war with Portugal,
terrible news were comming to Granada and Tangiers and other muslim cities from Cordoba,
the capital of Andalucia which was under Castilian rule.
The king of Castilia - who was in need of more gold -
was confiscating property of rich muslim merchants in Cordoba
their prayers were continuously being disturbed by his officials
so when it appeared that Portugal is losing the war,
emir Ali decided to join the war on portugeese side.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2879/029castiliawarcf7.png

It, of course pleased the king of Portugal,
who already lost province of Lisbon, and a messanger has arrived to our Emir.
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4373/030portugeesereactionfu2.png

emir Aadil, our marshal, was sent to Lisbon to plunder local churches
and to initiate a revolt against Castilian rule.
Sadly he was attacked by conde Garcia of Castilia and his strong army
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6290/034battleqq9.png

But quite soon, castilian reinforcements of king Pedro have arrived
emir Aadil ordered his men to attack the king first
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3194/034battle2dr3.png

Pedro's army seemed to be little weaker than Garcia's,
but our men had to be fast to have chance to win the battle
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6977/034battle3ee1.png

We attacked directly the king, but his peasants disabled the direct attack
and there was not enough time for more complicated manoeuvres,
as Garcia's army was near.
Emir Aadil was losing one squad after another,
but king Pedro was still alive.
There was no other choice left than to withdraw from the battlefield.
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/8099/034battle4gm0.png

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9024/037lossru3.png
A rebellion was initiated, but with 2 castilian marshals in the province it had no chance of survival.
Emir Aadil couldn't help the rebels so he boarded a ship and sailed back home to reinforce his squads.

Sadly, in the very beggining of year 778 A.H. Castilian armies had conquered also town of Porto and eliminated kingdom of Portugal.
Emirate of Marinids was left alone in this war.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1972/040portugaleliminatedee7.png

[Kuno of Gersenau]

Great story again, Elvain! :hello:

Looking forward if you can free your muslim brothers in Cordoba...:wink:

I just wonder a bit why you didn't use dread or leadership to skill your knight...

[Elvain]

I just wonder a bit why you didn't use dread or leadership to skill your knight...I mostly use other skills. Especially if I play as muslim nation I prefere not to "waste" experience of other morale boosts than just religious bonus.

From my recent perspective (I'm 2hours ahead the AAR) I could have used at least one of these :scratch:

[Traveller]

Wow, really interesting development of events indeed! Looking forward to the next part!

[Elvain]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/IbnBattuta.jpg/200px-IbnBattuta.jpg
Chapter 6 - Economy and diplomacy 774-783 A.H. (1373-1381 C.E.)

During the war against Castilia emir Ali continued to build up his emirate's image of prospering state.
For that he needed to improve state economy which will - hopefully -
later help to defeat Castilians not only on the battlefield, but also in diplomatical activities.
The goal was to isolate Castilia as much as possible and improve international importance of Marinid emirate.

Before the portugeese campaign of emir Aadil started, first important trade good was achieved.
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5049/033parchmenthy4.png

In the very end of the battle in Lisbon, a terrible news arriver to Marinid court.
Our most important ally, sultan al-Hasan of Mameluks has passed away.
Through our royal marriages Ali's son Faris had right to claim parts of Mameluk sultanate
namely provinces of Barka, Libya and Alexandria,
but he decided not to claim this right in order to improve our relations with sultan Muhammad.
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/6964/035heritage1wo4.png

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8776/035heritage2eh9.png

Several months later a messanger arrived with news that
currently most beloved ruler in Europe is Bernhold, graf of Mecklenburg,
some local ruler in cold and far north
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6624/039mostbelovedxk3.png

in spring 782 A.H. another trade good was achieved (in Granada)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9346/041wooljy0.png

As the time passed, emir Ali noticed that kingdom treasury needs higher income,
especially because of lasting war against Castilia which wasn't going good (see next chapter)
So he hired another trader and asked Serbia for trade agreement.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8048/054serbiatradecu2.png

Serbians first refused, but they were at war with Aragon
so they asked emir Ali to attack Aragon.
COnsidering the fact that Aragon was opressing good muslims in Valencia
emir Ali agreed and signed trade agreement with Serbia.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1720/054serbiatrade2mn9.png
The result was extremely hot northern border of Granada.